Youth-led protests over living costs and education turn violent across Germany
Tens of thousands of young protesters demonstrated across Germany over education funding and living costs, with clashes and looting reported in major cities late Saturday.
Tens of thousands of young demonstrators gathered across dozens of German cities on Saturday to demand increased education funding, relief from rising living costs, and an end to compulsory military service. Organized by the youth collective "Gen Z regelt!", the nationwide rallies drew participants to major urban hubs including Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Cologne, and Hamburg as part of a wider wave of Gen Z-led activism spreading across Europe.
While the day's demonstrations began largely peacefully, unrest erupted late Saturday evening. Authorities reported clashes between demonstrators and emergency personnel in several major cities. Police deployed water cannon to disperse crowds targeting officers with fireworks and stones, while rioters looted shops in central Frankfurt.
Sources: BBC News, Cyprus Mail, Daily Sabah, France24, The Guardian.
